New art school building on creativity

"That’s Art" urges children to use imagination

By: Stephanie Brown
   JAMESBURG — Dahmin Lim is not afraid of a little color.
   During her Jan. 26 art class at That’s Art, a new studio on West Railroad Avenue, the 6-year-old sat at an easel, her paintbrush in hand.
   She stared intently at a pink and white birthday cake set on a table in the center of the room.
   While the four other girls in her class painted little pink flowers on top of vanilla cakes, Dahmin opted for a more imaginative rendition of the sugary still life.
   With a stroke of her paintbrush, she added a bright blue layer to her cake.
   "This is the blueberry cream," she said matter-of-factly.
   It’s exactly those moments — when an ordinary vanilla cake can turn into a blueberry cream masterpiece — that inspired Monroe residents Betsy McGrath and Randy Wainland to open an art studio for children.
   "I want them to have a creative flexibility in here that they don’t have anywhere else," said Ms. McGrath, who teaches the studio’s art lessons. "I want them to feel free to express themselves."
   Located at 10A West Railroad Ave., That’s Art opened on Jan. 16. Classes are offered for children up to age 13, and are taught by Ms. McGrath, who is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York.
   "It’s the opportunity of a lifetime," said Ms. McGrath, who used to give art lessons in her house.
   Classes for pre-kindergarten through second grade cost $180 for 12 weeks. Classes for third through sixth grade cost $165 for 11 weeks.
   Ms. McGrath said her students receive a more in-depth art lesson than what is generally taught in school. They paint, sculpt, and draw using quality materials such as canvases, clay, charcoals acrylic paints and other items.
   Most of all, Ms. McGrath said she gives her students the freedom to experiment.
   "Maybe they’ll say, ‘I want to sculpt today, I don’t really feel that I’m a painter,’" she said. "Let’s let them dabble in it, because they’re young and they should experience all of these things."
   Donna Deter’s two daughters, Heather, 11, and Amber, 9, take Ms. McGrath’s Friday class.
   "It’s a way for them to release their creativity, and they’re learning the basics with Betsy," said Ms. Deter, a Monroe resident. "They’re not just doing crafts or just having fun. She is teaching them the basic foundations of art."
   In addition to the studio, the new storefront also includes retail space where one-of-a-kind items made by artists from all around the globe are sold.
   The store’s shelves hold many interesting and whimsical pieces, like breakfast foods made out of felt, sock monkeys, and friendship necklaces with half peanut butter and jelly sandwiches charms.
   Prices run the gamut, from about $7 for glycerin soaps in the shape of Popsicles, called Soapcicles, to $199 for clay teapots, which resemble something from "Alice in Wonderland."
   Ms. Wainland said she also wants to give parents something to do while their child is taking lessons.
   "The concept behind it was you always take your kids to an activity and you’re limited to an hour in what you can do," Ms. Wainland said. "So we thought, we can have a store here with unique items to look at that would keep people busy."
   Being parents themselves, Ms. Wainland said she and Ms. McGrath understand how difficult it can be to make that hour or so productive.
   That’s why she said they choose Jamesburg as the ideal location for their new business.
   The borough offers the convenience of a walking town to parents waiting for their child to finish his or her art lesson.
   Parents can run errands, grab a bite to eat, or visit Thompson Park — without having to drive — while their child is at class, she said.
   "We want to believe there’s a town here," Ms. Wainland said. "Living in Monroe, you’re always going out to the highway, and it will be nice to have a local place to go rather than having to travel 20 minutes in any direction."
   Together, the women hope to inspire children to think outside the box through art.
   "I think it expands their world," Ms. Wainland said. "You start to see a leaf on a tree is not just green and it’s not just a particular shape. Now they’re studying their world."
   "They’re really learning to look," added Ms. McGrath.
   For more information on art classes for children or the merchandise sold at That’s Art, call (732) 521-0755.